Ronaldo and Zidane kick off Greener Transport Bid for 2010 World Cup

UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors praise South Africa and UN’s eco-friendly vision at the opening of major environment conference in Cape Town

Cape Town - Renowned international footballers Ronaldo Luiz Nazariode Lima and Zinédine Zidane today issued a joint statement supporting plans to build a cleaner and healthier public transport system in South Africa in time for the 2010 World Cup.

“The FIFA World Cup is a stage for the skills and talents of the world’s finest footballers, and teams. But it is also a real opportunity to showcase the talents of engineers, designers, architects and city planners and their solutions for a cleaner, fairer, and ultimately more just planet,” read the statement.

The eco-friendly project, which was highlighted today at the opening of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly in Cape Town, is being submitted by the South African Government to the GEF through the United Nations Development Programme. The Assembly is the governing body of the GEF in which representatives of all its member countries participate.

This is the first time an African country will host the world’s greatest football tournament, and with 300,000 international visitors anticipated, the South Africa Government wants to ensure that the existing unreliable, polluting and sometimes dangerous public transport system gets more than just a face lift.

The project will investigate clean energy alternatives to fossil fuel-driven transport, will make public transport a viable alternative to private cars for match spectators, and will implement better, sustainable transport planning around the country.

“We hope the realization of the ‘Sustainable Public Transport and Sport: An Eco-friendly Vision’ project will, when the final whistle blows, have played its part in making the next FIFA World Cup a healthier, more enjoyable and more inclusive event while acting as a catalyst for the development of 21st century public transport across Africa and the developing world,” said the footballers.

Transport in South Africa accounts for 24 percent of total energy consumption and it is estimated that the number of cars on the road will grow by 64 percent by 2020.

“This project is about much more than the mobility of footballers and fans,” said Ad Melkert, Associate Administrator and Under-Secretary-General for UNDP, who will participate in the GEF conference. “It will leave a lasting legacy with South Africa taking the lead in pushing back pollution that is now ‘suffocating’ many of the poor.”

"The greatest two, Zidane and Ronaldo......."